Sanford Speaks Out is the latest blog sensation written, edited and produced by Sanford D. Horn, a writer and educator. Sanford will write about issues of the day covering a myriad subjects: politics, education, culture, sports, religion and even food.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

A number of The
Indianapolis Star readers have written letters to the editor extoling the
virtues of why asking potential voters for photo identification is tantamount
to murdering their cat. In doing so, these readers have proven themselves
ignorant not just to the dangers of voter fraud, but the dilution of the very
own votes cast by legal voters.

And while the Star
has printed an abundance of anti-photo ID letters, supporting letters, such as
this, although altered for this site, have been shunned.

Andy Pike of Indianapolis (“Make it convenient for people
to exercise right,” www.indystar.com) is
among the myriad readers and writers who still don’t understand the paramount
importance of requiring photo ID of legitimate voters.

Such a requirement preserves and protects the sanctity of
the votes of those who cast them. If ever there was a case to be made
protecting the rights of the honest voter it’s this case documented in
Maryland.

Wendy Rosen, a Democrat running in the first
congressional district of Maryland, withdrew her candidacy less than two weeks
ago when it was discovered she had committed voter fraud. Rosen, registered to
vote in both Maryland and Florida, cast ballots in both states since 2006. (www.washingtonpost.com) While the
matter is under investigation, Rosen’s withdrawal speaks volumes.

Photo ID is required for so many of life’s daily
activities from entering a government building, boarding an airplane, writing a
check, using a credit card, purchasing alcohol, tobacco or firearms, opening a
bank account, signing a lease to rent a home or property, signing mortgage
documents to buy a home or a business, and yes, even attending this month’s
Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. Where were the cries of hypocrisy
in Charlotte from the Democrats’ rank and file or the so-called mainstream
liberal media demanding photo ID of its delegations, but eschewing it at
polling places across the country?

Millard Tyrone Sprinkles of Fishers is also wrong to say
that while is it perfectly OK to expect a photo ID requirement in order to
enter the DNC because this is “an age where vigilance is needed against those
who would do harm,” when he cannot see the harm being perpetrated by those
committing or attempting to commit voter fraud. (“Voter ID laws curtail
fundamental freedom,” www.indystar.com)

Sprinkles then compounds his fallacious argument saying
“There has been only a small number of documented cases of voter fraud related
to identification.” [Sic] (www.indystar.com)
That there is even one case of voter fraud is enough to warrant a strictly
enforced photo ID law in all 50 states to preserve the integrity of the votes
cast by honest, law abiding voters. Should there not be such a provision until
there are a dozen documented cases of voter fraud, Mr. Sprinkles? How about
waiting until there are 100? Or 1,000? How many diluted legitimate votes should
be weakened before common sense comes in to play? Likewise, should the Centers
for Disease Control only work on a cure for a life-threatening disease only
after 10, 100, or 1,000 people have contracted or died from it?

Indianapolis Star
op-ed columnist Dan Carpenter wrote, in opposing voter ID photo requirements as
a form of voter suppression, “Given that most eligible voters who lack IDs tend
to be poor, elderly or minority, this hurts Democrats.” (“ID facts and false
pictures,” September 5, 2012, www.indystar.org)

The Supreme Court of the United States disagrees with Mr.
Carpenter as it ruled there is no hardship in expecting voters to show up to
their polling places with appropriate photo ID according to a six to three High
Court verdict in April 2008, specifically citing Indiana’s law.

“The universally applicable requirements of Indiana
voter-identification law are eminently reasonable. The burden of acquiring,
possessing and showing a free photo identification is simply not severe,
because it does not ‘even represent a significant increase over the usual
burdens of voting,’” wrote Justice Scalia, also for the majority. (“A Picture
Worth A Thousand Votes,” 12/25/11, www.sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com)

And with all due respect to Frank H. Werker of Carmel,
that he is a veteran possessing a “DD Form 214” (military service record) that
is government issue, albeit one lacking a photo, the photo is what protects the
integrity of his vote. All other information about being a retiree, a taxpayer
and a native of Vincennes is superfluous. (“We served for right to vote without
ID,” Sept. 23, 2012, www.indystar.com) On
the other hand, thank you, Mr. Werker, for serving the United States in the
Army for three years, including your year-long tour of duty in Vietnam.

Mr. Pike is wrong about voting being a Constitutional
right. Despite Amendments XV, XIX, and XXVI, states still have the legal
authority to deny the vote to felons and non-citizens attempting or committing
voter fraud. The vote is a privilege and a responsibility not to be diminished
by fraudulent actors attempting to sully the democratic-republican process.

Mr. Pike is right about one thing – it should be
convenient for legal voters to cast their ballots – geographically convenient.
All voters should live within walking distance of their polling site – school,
church, synagogue, fire station, etc. Polling places should be staffed by
volunteers who live in those neighborhoods and recognize most voters.

Barack Obama has once again put his weak spine on
display. This time for failing to act on the violation of the Hatch Act* by his
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.

Sebelius, a Democrat, who signed the ethics pledge,
committed numerous ethics violations prior to her being selected as HHS
Secretary while serving as Governor of Kansas (2003-09), and should never been
nominated, let alone confirmed, 65-31, by the Democrat-majority Senate.

To be fair, nine Republican senators aided and abetted in
the confirmation of Sebelius when they had the power to thwart the nomination
from succeeding. Far too often cabinet nominees are rubber stamped to
confirmation with little to no real opposition. All 31 no votes were cast by
GOP senators while 54 Democrats and two independents supported Sebelius. (www.newsvine.com)

That the cadre of Democrats would vote along party lines
is simply a matter of loyalty and not surprising. After all, Sebelius was
supposedly vetted by both Obama as well as the senators conducting the
confirmation hearings. But if she were in fact vetted, why was the following
neither uncovered or if it was, not a concern for the 65 senators who voted to
confirm Sebelius?

While Kansas governor, Sebelius hosted, at taxpayer
expense, a party at the governor’s mansion for George Tiller, of late-term
abortion fame and his entire clinic staff of roughly two dozen people. Tiller,
a major financial contributor to Sebelius’ campaigns, was under criminal
investigation at the time of the party, and later charged with violating the
post-viability law of Kansas. (www.lifenews.com)

Sebelius was caught in a meek attempt to spin the event
as something it wasn’t, then ultimately lied about the funding and expenses of
that and another event. During her Senate confirmation hearings the subject of
Tiller and money came up, and again, more spinning and discrepancies presented
that should have raised numerous red flags for the confirmation committee.

Instead, Sebelius sailed through confirmation. It was no
surprise that GOP senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Dick Lugar
(IN), George Voinovich (OH), and Arlen Specter (PA) voted to confirm as they
are moderates at best.

Lugar was subsequently defeated in a 2012 GOP primary by
Richard Mourdock. Specter jumped ship and returned to his Democrat roots in
2009 and was also ousted from the Senate in a primary losing to Joe Sestak, who
in turn suffered defeat at the hand of current GOP Senator Pat Toomey.
Voinovich since retired while both Maine senators continue their service.

More surprising were the votes from conservatives Judd
Gregg (NH), Kit Bond (MO) and Kansas Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts.
Perhaps the two Kansans supported Sebelius out of state loyalty, but that is
not a valid reason to confirm someone to a cabinet position with an ethically
challenged past. Bond and Gregg have since retired; Brownback is currently
Sebelius’ successor in Topeka while Roberts continues to serve in the Senate.

More recently, Sebelius continued to tarnish her ethics
record, twice this year and both times in Charlotte, NC – once in February
speaking at a taxpayer-funded event supporting local Democratic candidates and
just earlier this month at the Democratic National Convention, endorsing the
reelection of Barack Obama. Both the Charlotte events involved cover ups and
reimbursements of funds by a complicit DNC to make it appear as though Sebelius
did not violate the Hatch Act, but such attempts were clearly unsuccessful.

While it is not practical to fire or ask for Sebelius’
resignation from her HHS post as the 2012 election is but six weeks away, Obama
has a responsibility to do so anyway. The HHS Undersecretary can certainly keep
the department afloat for three months, after Obama spends more of his time on
the campaign trail and visiting a radio DJ called Pimp with a Limp, as well as
talk shows like The View and David Letterman while the nation is in crisis.

About 10 days ago the Office of Special Council
determined that Sebelius indeed did break the law by violating the Hatch Act
and referred the matter to the White House “for disciplinary action. The usual
penalty for such an infraction would be removal from office.” (www.lifenews.com)

Obama promised his would be the most transparent
administration in history. Far from it, as he uses executive orders, recess
appointments and avoids the Washington press corps as often as possible in an
effort to subjugate his opponents, whom he has often called “enemies.” This is
the least transparent administration since the days of Richard M. Nixon. Obama
took no action against Sebelius, continuing to demonstrate weakness both at
home and abroad.

*Enacted in
1939, the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C.A. 7324) curbs the political activities of
employees in federal, state, and local governments. The law's goal is to
enforce political neutrality among civil servants: the act prohibits them from
holding public office, influencing elections, participating in or managing
political campaigns, and exerting Undue Influence on government hiring. Penalties for violations range from
warnings to dismissal. The law's restrictions have always been controversial.
Critics have long argued that the act violates the First Amendment freedoms of government employees. The U.S. Supreme Court has
disagreed, twice upholding the law's constitutionality. (http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Hatch+Act)

Friday, September 21, 2012

If there could be some mechanism for typing equivalent to
speed dialing on the telephone, the phrase “political correctness run amok,”
would be just the sort of phrase to be first on the new speed typing
application.

In this specific case, that expression would apply to the
insanity occurring in the Cranston, RI school district where a mother, along
with the support of the ACLU of course, manage to shut down a district-wide,
years tradition of father-daughter dances, along with all other cross gender
parent-child activities.

To be fair, the mother and ACLU have a legally legitimate complaint, at least
according to the laws of the ultra-liberal state of Rhode Island. “While
federal Title IX legislation banning gender discrimination gives an exemption
for ‘father-son’ and ‘mother-daughter’ events, Rhode Island law doesn’t.” (www.providencejournal.com)

But there is a bigger picture to be seen here. Where does
the chicanery of political correctness end? Will there be protests and
objections every time one person is unable to participate in an event or
activity and a lawsuit to curtail that event or activity? Where does
reasonableness come into play? What role does common sense play in this drama
of the ridiculous?

Should team sports be cancelled if a complaining student
is cut from the team? Should the prom be cancelled if a complaining student
doesn’t have a date? Should the school choir be disbanded if a complaining
student doesn’t have the vocal chops to participate?

It was bad enough when a Newton, MA middle school
unofficially banned the wearing of “celebratory clothing” last year – such as
t-shirts commemorating a student’s birthday or bar/bat mitzvah simply because
not all students had been invited to a particular event. G-d forbid a child has
to come in contact with a reminder of an event for which he or she was not
invited. (“Keep Your Shirts On,” 12/24/11 www.sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com)

Legislation is designed to restrict behavior, such as the
state law in Rhode Island prohibiting the mother-son and father-daughter
programs, even after federal law exempts such outings from falling under the
auspices of Title IX.

Could there have been another way of handling this
situation? Sure. Did the mother not have a brother, father, uncle, good friend
of the family to step in and accompany the daughter to the dance? If there is
no adult male influence in the child’s life, that is a different problem for
another column.

Upon hearing of this situation and law, state senate
candidate Sean Gately (R) said he will work to change the law if elected. (www.providencejournal.com)

Not every child will be able to participate in every
activity; but that child or parent should not be allowed to hold an entire
school or district emotionally hostage to prevent their precious angel from
feeling the pangs of disappointment. These children had better learn about
disappointment, rejection, failure and losing now before it hits them like a
ton of bricks and they are too far gone emotionally living in the world of Oz
to recover and there are more Paducahs, Columbines or Auroras.

So it only took the Obama administration 10 days to
figure out what anyone with a beating heart and a pulse already knew: that the
assault on the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, was a
terrorist attack.

Hello? McFly? Anyone home?

Upon hearing of the terrorist attack on the embassy where
radical Muslim extremists murdered Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Air Force
veteran Sean Smith and former Navy SEALs Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, Obama
was reticent to call the attacks a coordinated terrorist effort.

First there was the apology from Obama for an anti-Muslim
film produced by an independent source that, as it turned out had nothing to do
with the attack on the US embassy in Cairo, Egypt, also a September 11 terror
strike perpetrated by radical Muslim extremists.

Then Obama expressed shock that such attacks would take
place. Look at a calendar, Mr. Obama – it’s September 11. If you are shocked
perhaps you should stay in Washington, attend your intelligence hearings once
in a while and you wouldn’t be shocked by an attack that was practically
telegraphed.

Prior to the terrorist assaults on the embassies in Benghazi
and Cairo, Obama had only attended 47 percent of his own intelligence hearings.
But that was overlooked by a liberal media so entrenched in the world of
getting Obama reelected. Instead, the media focused its attention on GOP
presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who immediately called the uprisings at the
embassies what they were – terrorist attacks. However, for his accuracy,
criticism of Obama for coming late to the realization, and his presidential
behavior, Romney was vilified by a media that continues to present one-sided,
biased reports masquerading as real news.

US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice also
refused to acknowledge the obvious, instead calling the terrorist attacks “spontaneous,
not premeditated.” How obtuse can this administration be?

US Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) said “the Obama
administration is finally waking up to the reality that the attack on the US consulate
in Libya was a terrorist attack to coincide with 9/11.”

“This was not a coincidence that it happened on the
anniversary of September 11, that there are people out there who want to kill
Americans and we have to confront our enemies. That’s what this administration
is never willing to do,” said Ros-Lehtinen, chair of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee. (www.newsmax.com)

While the administration continued burying its head in
the sand, suggesting there was no evidence these were terrorist attacks, US
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) said “based on the briefings that I have had, I
come to the opposite conclusion. I just don’t think people come to protests
equipped with RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) and other heavy weapons.” (www.theadvertiser.com)

Obama has all but abdicated his role as Commander in
Chief in favor of becoming Entertainer in Chief – spending his time with rapper
Jay Z, singer Beyoncé and appearing on David Letterman’s late night talk show
instead of doing his job in Washington, DC, or meeting with Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was once again shunned by Obama. Obama
continues to fiddle while American embassies burn.

In fact, where was Obama on September 11 and 12?
Campaigning and fund-raising in Nevada and Colorado instead of returning to the
White House immediately upon learning of the terrorist strikes. Obama continues
to operate sans a sense of urgency.

The United States has a so-called leader who, upon taking
office, declared that change would come to the Middle East, the Arab world and
the Muslim world. Is this the change Obama meant? Attacks on US embassies or on
Americans directly in Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Sudan,
Tunisia, and Yemen within the last two weeks are probably not what Obama
bargained for during his naïve claims.

It is clear Obama is over his head in the White House,
and no amount of posturing, placating or appeasing will change the climate
overseas. Appeasement didn’t work in 1938 for British Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain, and it is not working in 2012 for Barack Obama.

Change is what is needed, and hopefully it will come November
6 when Obama is fired from his first real job and replaced with Mitt Romney who
will take the job of president of the United States seriously.

May the deaths of the ambassador and his colleagues not
have been in vain and may their memories always be for a Blessing.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

"Let us recollect that peace or war will not always
be left to our option; that however moderate or unambitious we may be, we
cannot count upon the moderation, or hope to extinguish the ambition of
others." -- Alexander Hamilton

Not One Thin Dime – Enough is Enough

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

September 16, 2012

The Arab Spring has clearly morphed into the winter of
our discontent.

This is not going to be a political screed as both major
parties are complicit here. Both the Democrats and the Republicans continue
doling out money like Halloween treats to countries far and wide who neither
appreciate the assistance nor defend to their own people the veracity of its importance.

If the past week of tragedy, terror, and tumult in Egypt,
Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, and Bangladesh have not driven home the
message that no amount of money or foreign aid will appease the savages that
run amok in the name of a faith that, to all evidence, is clearly no religion
of peace, then it is time to raise the financial and cultural white flags.

For all his insanity and inanities over the years, US
Rep. Ron Paul (?-TX) actually got this one correct: make foreign countries earn
the generous largesse provided by the United States. All countries should start
at zero dollars and let them make their case before Congress and the State
Department for any aid they think they deserve.

One would think members of Congress would be tripping all
over themselves for the chance to sponsor such budget cutting legislation,
especially when it would not involve eliminating any precious entitlements of
which Democrats are so fond, or any Republican-sponsored tax cuts.

Use Ross Perot-style charts if it will help, but make no
mistake, reprobate nations will not see one thin dime of American dollars, nor
will nations that support those rogue miscreants. Nor should they. They don’t
like the United States and they are not going to like the United States just
because they are given financial aid. Or worse, military aid that such nations
ultimately turn against their donors. Is the US buying intelligence? If so, how
reliable could the intelligence be when soldiers trained by the US become
insurgents, turning those weapons against those who trained those troops?

“We’re losing soldiers in Afghanistan to rogue forces –
this is what Israel goes through every day,” said Douglas Brinkley, Rice
University professor and presidential historian. “We cannot count on host
countries protecting our property,” said Brinkley. “We have to do it ourselves.”
(American embassies overseas are American property.)

Sanctions certainly have not worked against countries
like Iran, as they continue to press forward with their nuclear warfare designs
in an effort to fulfill their promise of eradicating Israel from the map.

There is a “moment of truth coming on Iran,” said Senator
Joseph Lieberman (I-CT). The Middle East wants US leadership and the US must
show strength and leadership, Lieberman continued, adding that “we either
accept a nuclear Iran or act militarily. We have to deal with Iran in a very
tough way.”

It is not only foolish to capitulate, hand-wring,
supplicate, or genuflect to and before people who neither like nor respect the
United States, it has proven deadly, witness the murder of an American
ambassador and three of his colleagues this week alone.

Appeasement did not work for British Prime Minister
Neville Chamberlain in 1938 with Hitler, and today the United States is dealing
with an enemy with more patience, more people (over one billion), better
intelligence, technology, and firepower than the Nazis could ever have
fathomed.

This is not the Cold War fought against the former Soviet
Union, flexing muscles and backing down a la the Cuban Missile Crisis of October
1962 because the United States was dealing with an enemy who also wanted to
live. That was a battle for spheres of influence between capitalism and democracy
versus communism – a battle of differing political and economic philosophies. The
Domino Theory was all the rage.

Such politics and economics are subject to metamorphosis over
time. How many strident communist nations still exist? Cuba? Angola? North
Korea? Anyone looking to move to any of those despotic locales anytime soon?
Even China is moving, ever so slowly, toward a pseudo-capitalism. The United
States does business with Vietnam these days, which, while objectionable, is a
matter for another column.

Today’s “dominos” will not be bought off with aid –
financial, military or otherwise.

Eradicating this problem is simple. Pull all American
servicemen and women from these rogue nations. Encourage all students and
tourists to return home to the United States as quickly as possible. Advise
American citizens not to visit or conduct business with rogue nations or the
nations supporting the enemies of the United States. Hit them where they will
feel it – in their economies. Yes, that includes any oil producing countries as
well. Further, freeze any governmental assets miscreant countries have in the
United States.

The current war, and it is a war, has been waged by a group
of savage fanatics and zealots blindly following religious dicta and dogma commanding
its adherents to kill so-called infidels such as Jews and Christians, commanding
that female adulterers be put to death, commanding that homosexuals be put to
death, that converts away from this venal faith be put to death. Their
treatment of women is abominable at best.

The savages who make headlines on a daily basis burning
American flags, attacking embassies, murdering innocent Americans, chanting
death to Israel, death to America, are now clamoring “Obama, Obama, there are still
a billion Osamas.” (www.drudge.com)

Terrorists only understand fear and violence, and they
should be met with the same if not worse. They kill four Americans, the US
strikes back by killing 4,000 of their people. This may sound harsh to American
sensibilities and the media would lose their minds over such a plan of attack,
but fire must be fought with fire as the alternatives have proven a
catastrophic failure.

Terrorists need only be accurate once. “Our vigilance has
to be every day,” said Brinkley.

In order to be acutely vigilant, the United States needs
deft leadership and the mechanisms in which to defend the nation and its people
both at home and abroad.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Critics of Mitt Romney Ruth Marcus (Romney owes an
apology) and Andy Pike of Indianapolis (Romney should not have made statements)
simply do not understand that the GOP presidential nominee was defending the
First Amendment of the Constitution as well the honor of the United States. Printing of both the Marcus column and Pike
letter to the editor demonstrate the left leanings of The Indianapolis Star.

Simultaneously, Barack Obama was both apologizing for
something needing no apology and continuing to campaign for reelection instead
of returning to the White House to do the job for which he was elected.
Continuing to campaign shows Obama to be insensitive regarding the deaths of
Ambassador Chris Stevens and his colleagues – even if unintentional. However,
this is not the first time Obama has demonstrated a lack of a sense of urgency.

Marcus’ column reiterates the embassy statement from
Cairo condemning “the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the
religious feelings of Muslims,” emanating from a film produced independently by
a person with no affiliation to the US government.

That this statement was supported by the Obama
administration at home is not tantamount to an apology, but exactly that – and
one that was not then, nor is not now, necessary. While the film may have been
depraved and disrespectful it still falls under the purview of the First
Amendment where “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech…”

Romney aptly defended the Constitution and rightly
condemned the administration for an unnecessary apology that also made the US
look weak in the eyes of people who only seem to respect strength and force. It
is Romney’s timing that Mr. Pike took to task when Romney should be applauded
for his statements demonstrating a decisive individual who defends his nation
and its Constitution.

Mr. Pike compared this crisis to that of the attacks on
09/11/01 and that “everyone needs to stand behind the United States.” In
defending the Constitution and the honor of the United States, that is
precisely what Gov. Romney did.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Continuing its weak and embarrassing dogma of apology and
supplication, the Obama administration has once again proven feckless in its
ability to properly handle a crisis – this time a foreign policy crisis that
saw two embassies attacked and four Americans murdered, including one
ambassador.

And yet, while bereft of any cogent demonstration of
strength or backbone, it was Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney who
was assailed by the so-called mainstream media for being too quick to condemn
and criticize.

A little seen video, with no link to the American
government, containing ridicule of Islam’s prophet Mohammad was the impetus to
the violence and murders that occurred in Egypt and Libya.

That the carnage took place on September 11 is certainly
no coincidence – adding to the angst of the commemoration of the most horrific day
of terror on American soil in 2001 when the World Trade Center twin towers were
destroyed, the Pentagon in Arlington, VA attacked, and a plane diverted from
Washington to crash in a field in Shanksville, PA, where roughly 3,000
innocents were murdered. Yet, Obama called the attacks “shocking.”

While the mocking of any legitimate religious figure is
inappropriate and distasteful, there is still a little something called the
First Amendment to the United States Constitution providing that: “Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”
This amendment was not defended or supported by the Obama administration in the
language used by the American embassy in Cairo.

The initial statement from the embassy condemned “the
continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of
Muslims, as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions.”

As violence erupted at the American embassy in Cairo,
radical Muslims tore down, shredded and burned the American flag, replacing it
with the black banner representing Muslim extremism. This included chants of “Obama,
we are here to sacrifice for Osama.” This was followed by statements from the
embassy supporting the previous call to not offend the religious sensibilities
of Muslims, all the while; Muslims are attacking the American embassy.

Over in Benghazi, Libya, the American embassy was also
invaded by radical Muslims who murdered US Ambassador to Libya Christopher
Stevens, 52, a native of California and a 20-plus year Foreign Service veteran,
along with three other Americans.

While the administration continued its cow-towing to the
attacking and murdering Muslims, GOP nominee Romney rightfully criticized Obama’s
weakness and condemned the attacks on the embassy as well as the murders of
Ambassador Stevens and the other three Americans.

Romney exhibited strength and presidential acumen in his
condemnation of the attacks on the two embassies, the murder of four American
citizens, and the fact that embassy security is the responsibility of the host
country, who clearly failed to do their jobs.

To be fair, Obama absolutely condemned the attacks and
declared his desire to work with the Libyan government to bring the killers to
justice. That’s a nice idea, Mr. Obama, but what government? Libya, since the
ousting of Moammar Gaddafi, has been a virtual anarchist state.

Making matters worse was after the initial embassy
statement, the Obama administration tried to disavow itself from the
apology/condemnation of free speech rights, and then hours later, the State
Department supported those very words.

Instead of condemning the Obama administration, the media
went after Romney during his comments for jumping the gun in his condemnation
of Obama for his continued weakness and capitulation to enemies of the American
people.

Romney expressed condolences to the Stevens’ family as
well as the families of the other murdered diplomats. After calling the attacks
“disgraceful, outrageous and disgusting,” Romney maintained his criticism of
Obama.

“I think it is a terrible course for America to issue an
apology for our values. An apology for America’s values is never the right
course,” said Romney, adding that Obama’s foreign policy has been a “hit-or-miss
approach” lacking consistency.

Romney continued by mentioning the three “fundamental
branches” of his foreign policy: confidence in the cause with no apologies for
American values; clarity in the purpose; and resolve in the might of the United
States – that hopefully it is needed rarely, but when it is necessary, to be
swift and use overwhelming force in the clarity of the mission.

The Obama administration more and more resembles that of
the failed term of Jimmy Carter – weak economy, high unemployment and a lack of
respect abroad. This, sadly, is reminiscent of the Iranian hostage crisis which
put the final nail into the coffin of the Carter reelection bid in 1980.

It was no accident that on the day Ronald Reagan was
inaugurated those very hostages were on their way home. Peace through strength
was the Reagan mantra, and it worked. It restored America’s rightful place in
the global community, brought confidence back home to American citizens and
began to right the ship of state.

Mitt Romney may not be Ronald Reagan, but he certainly
exhibited Reagan-esque qualities that will help turn around a floundering
economy, restore confidence in the business community and lead through strength
on the foreign stage.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Wherever Americans around the globe were located they
suddenly had a heightened sense of who they were as individuals, as countrymen
and as proud patriots. Our only concerns were whether or not our families and
loved ones were safe – especially for those of us living within the sights and
sounds of Ground Zero – either of them.

Nothing else mattered – not politics, not sports – all seemed
so insignificant while our realities seemed so surreal. However, attending the
first Orioles home game after the resumption of baseball on September 21 proved
otherwise as halfway through the National Anthem I began to cry like a baby,
and I know I wasn’t alone.

Having grown up in north Jersey, with parents, sadly both
Blessed memories, still living there, contact was vital. I was living in
Northern Virginia, about 10 miles from the Pentagon, working as local newspaper
reporter on a deadline that fateful Tuesday. We were able to appraise each
other as to our whereabouts and safety, but so many others we knew were not as
fortunate.

Once the beautiful, crisp morning air and blue skies were
permeated by the evils of al-Qaeda in New York City, Arlington, VA and
Shanksville, PA, all stories and deadlines were shelved in favor of the biggest
breaking news since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The entire newspaper staff was dispatched to as many
communities in Northern Virginia as possible to cover the horrific terrorist
attacks of that morning. A new day had dawned.

In fact, a new era had dawned – one that includes
gropings at airports, stadiums and any other large populated venue; the
surrendering of privacy rights and potentially freedoms in favor of political
correctness because we don’t want to seem insensitive to other groups.

Yet, while life has gone blithely on as we distance
ourselves further and further from September 11, 2001, and the restrictions on
our freedoms become more of an inconvenience and not a violation of the
Constitution, it becomes easier for the government to dictate our lives. This
we must fight as though our very existence as a free people depends upon it,
because, well, it does.

“Those that would sacrifice freedom for security deserve
neither,” said a prophetic Benjamin Franklin.

Never forget what happened that innocent Tuesday morning
11 years ago. Our collective national strength rose up from those ashes like
that of the Phoenix, and their deaths shall not have been in vain.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Same sex marriage and abortion on demand are in, while
G-d, Jerusalem and generations of support of Israel, the United States’ only
democratic ally in the Middle East, are out.

Is this your Democratic Party? It most certainly is not
the party of President Harry Truman, who mere seconds after Israel’s
independence was declared, officially recognized the new Jewish state.

And while the Democratic party at their convention in
Charlotte walked it back a day later, the cat was out of the bag – officially declaring
its antithesis toward people of faith and not having the courage to recognize
what the GOP and millions of Americans of both major political parties have
known for years – that Jerusalem is indeed the capital of Israel.

While most people consider reading a party platform
boring or a waste of time, those who report the news should consider it an
obligation to not just read, but report about for those who do not read it.
Here, The Indianapolis Star failed
miserably.

Not only did The
Star not report the language removed from the platform on Tuesday in
Wednesday’s newspaper, but they failed again to report on that same language
being reinstated in the platform the very next day. A huge article on the
inclusion of language sanctioning same sex marriage was front and center in
Wednesday’s Star paper, but nothing
about the exclusion of G-d and Jerusalem as the capital of Israel from the
platform could be found in that day’s paper.

Likewise, the reinsertion of G-d and the language noting Jerusalem
as the capital of Israel was included in the Thursday’s Star paper amidst the glowing, obsequious fawning over the speech
given by former President Bill Clinton.

More importantly, the manner in which the Democratic
convention chairman shoved the reinstated language down the throats of their
rank and file was ignored by The Star
and media outlets nationwide save for Fox News.

The language removed from the Democratic platform is as
follows, from its own 2008 platform:

The United States and its Quartet partners should continue to isolate Hamas until it renounces terrorism,
recognizes Israel's right to exist, and abides by
past agreements. Sustained American leadership for peace and security will require patient efforts and the
personal commitment of the President of the United
States. The creation of a Palestinian state through final status negotiations, together with an
international compensation mechanism, should resolve
the issue of Palestinian refugees by allowing them to settle there,
rather than in Israel. All understand that it is
unrealistic to expect the outcome of final status
negotiations to be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949. Jerusalem is and will remain the capital
of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem
is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths. (www.breitbart.com)

In order for the Democratic Party platform to be amended, a two-thirds vote
of approval from the delegates was required. Former Ohio Governor Ted
Strickland introduced the amendment with the language from the 2008 platform to
be reinserted in the 2012 platform. However, the amendment did not reinsert the
language demanding Hamas to renounce terrorism or even recognize Israel.

Convention chairman, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for the
yeas and nays via voice vote. The first time the nays were the clear majority,
so a confused-looking Villaraigosa called for the vote a second time with the
same results. A woman on stage with the L.A. mayor was overheard saying into
the still live microphone: “You gotta let them do what they’re gonna do.”

Clearly Villaraigosa wanted no part of that and emphatically called for the vote
yet a third time with the overwhelming majority still in opposition to the
reinsertion of G-d, Jerusalem and the Israel language to the platform.

A stunned and flummoxed Villaraigosa looked around the convention hall,
then read from the teleprompter this already loaded statement: “In the opinion
of the chair two-thirds having voted in the affirmative, the motion is adopted
and the platform has been amended as shown on the screen.”

The already charged up convention floor became even more obstreperous,
vociferously booing the insertion of G-d, Jerusalem and the language supporting
Israel. Delegates holding their Arab-American Democrat signs and atheists were
up in arms. This was a major error by the Democratic Party, not just the
removal of the language, but not knowing the beliefs of a clear majority of its
rank and file as the showed their true colors.

This entire menagerie of errors making the Democratic
Party look foolish was aptly summed up by Democratic pundit Paul Begala calling
the incident “beyond awkward, embarrassing, and stupid.”

This is not the Democratic Party of Harry Truman, John F.
Kennedy, Scoop Jackson or Joe Lieberman. The media has a responsibility to
inform the public of the news – whether it agrees with the story or not. The
media has a responsibility to report the news fairly, accurately, and
objectively. Clearly that has not been the case on a national level or here at
home in Indiana.